A Conversation for Public Transport in Munich, Germany

MVV Update (2)

Post 1

Monsignore Pizzafunghi Bosselese

'Die Bahn' has sort of left the consortium but the only visible consequences are that the new name of the consortium is MVG and that anything related to the S-Bahn is handled by Die Bahn only (mostly complaints, of course). Tickets are still valid throughout all of the transportation means.

The new S-Bahn trains apparently *are* an improvement. No complaints were heard about freezing doors or the like. Passengers still have to get used to *not* standing in the way of the doors because there's a light beam which, if interrupted, prevents the doors from closing and the train simply can't start. The software which is in control of the electronic displays has been updated, and now the displays alternate between showing the line number and the name of the next station. The computerised voice which announces the next station is loud and clear!

As of today, around one third of the S-Bahn trains have been replaced by new ones. Initial planning was for a faster procurement but... rumour has it that the city of Hannover had *lent* most of the new trains in order to cope with the transportation needs during the EXPO2000 (anyone remember that?) and is/was reluctant to hand them back before their own trains have been delivered.

However, the S-Bahn system is as unreliable as ever. There *are* plans to dig another tunnel in parallel to the bottleneck between Pasing and Ostbahnhof, but this one won't be operational before 2008. Provided that funding can be secured.

Background on funding: at the moment, the whole system (including U-Bahn, buses and trams) doesn't produce profit. Subsidies from the tax payers amount to EUR 0.5 million --- per day.


Another Update (3)

Post 2

Monsignore Pizzafunghi Bosselese

Beginning on the weekend 11/12 Jan 2003, the tunnel between Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof will be subject to a major overhaul of the signalling systems. As this is the main bottleneck of the S-Bahn, all works are to be carried out on Saturday nights, Sundays throughout till early Monday mornings. Thus, *no* S-Bahn will be running between HBF and OBF during weekend hours, for the next 56 weekends to come (that is, works are scheduled until Jan/Feb 2004).

Therefore, you'll have to exit your S-Bahn at Hackerbrücke (if arriving from the West) or the station before Ostbahnhof (if arriving from the East). A new Tramway line has been established to carry passengers through, and there are extra bus lines too.


Another Update (3)

Post 3

Monsignore Pizzafunghi Bosselese

Oh, and since a couple of weeks ago, they don't sell the 'Streifenkarte' on busses any more. Therefore, you'll need to buy them at a ticket counter or a vending machine at any U- or S-Bahn station prior to entering a bus.


Another Update (3)

Post 4

Monsignore Pizzafunghi Bosselese

In correction of the pre-previous update -
Trains coming from the East of Munich actually terminate at Ostbahnhof, not at the station before that.


Key: Complain about this post

More Conversations for Public Transport in Munich, Germany

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more